re: Annual Raise, Exceeds Expectations, Engineer

I've worked for large chemical companies in the south for almost 30 years. ChE. PE. I've been very successful and have had many different roles, from an individual contributor in highly technical positions to plant management.

The most significant raises I have gotten were due to wage compression or moving to a different company for growth. What your employers are doing is managing the expectations of individuals by giving them a little more some years and a little less other years. Actual performance affects raises very little in my experience.

If your company hasn't adjusted raises due to inflation, they will give you a greater-than-average raise, telling you how wonderful you are doing when they've just been given a little more of a salary budget due to inflation.

When I read your expectations on raises, it makes me a little sad for you. It comes off as you being pleased to get a 5% raise. I suggest changing jobs when you're in this situation so you can get what the market is paying. Otherwise, they'll pay you as little as possible to keep you on if you're meeting the bar.